Libya’s top oil official became the latest leading figure to desert Libyan leader Muammar Qaddafi on Wednesday, complaining of “unbearable” violence and adding political momentum to a revolt against the leader’s long rule.
In rebel-held eastern Libya, an explosion damaged a hotel used by rebels and foreigners in Benghazi, wounding one person, and police said rebel authorities believed the explosion might be linked to Qaddafi agents still operating in the east.
Abdel Hafiz Ghoga, vice chairman of the rebel National Transitional Council in Benghazi, said the explosion outside Tibesti hotel was believed to have been caused by a hand grenade thrown in a “desperate attempt” by Qaddafi loyalists to sow terror.
Photo: REUTERS
Explosions were also heard in central Tripoli in the early hours yesterday morning. Aircraft could be heard flying overhead, but no further information was immediately available.
The defection by National Oil Corp head Shokri Ghanem, who is also a former Libyan prime minister, came two days after the defections of eight army officers, including five generals, and those in earlier weeks of senior diplomats and former ministers.
“I left the country and decided also to leave my job and to join the choice of Libyan youth to create a modern constitutional state respecting human rights and building a better future for all Libyans,” Ghanem said.
Speaking at a news conference in Rome organized by the Libyan ambassador, who has also defected, Ghanem said he had left his job because of the “unbearable” violence in Libya.
“I have been working in Libya for so many years believing that we can make a lot of reform from within. Unfortunately, this became not possible, especially now, when we see the spilling of blood every day in Libya, our best youth and our best men getting killed,” he said.
Ghanem, who is one of the most senior Libyan officials to have defected, said he still saw some possibility of a peaceful settlement to decide the fate of Qaddafi’s 41-year-old rule. However, he added the last time he saw Qaddafi was “months ago.”
“In recent days and weeks, we have seen an acceleration in the number of defections from the Qaddafi regime as it realizes that the regime has no legitimacy, no credibility and no future,” rebel -spokesman Ghoga said in a statement.
Ghanem, whose whereabouts had been unknown for several days, also said oil production in Libya was coming to a halt because of the international embargo.
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